As a young professional in the sustainability field, I’m passionate about working on projects that protect our natural environment and foster more equitable communities. While this passion fuels my professional goals, it also causes me to constantly reflect on my own impact on the planet.

The impacts of climate change are already being felt in our metro-Detroit community, as we experience more extreme rainfall events, flooding, extreme heat days, and worsening air quality. Those that are most vulnerable in our communities will also be most impacted by these climate impacts and their associated health risks, making action even more vital.

While I know that changing my everyday actions are not the necessary large, systemic changes we need to fight climate change, I hope that collective small actions by many can have some impact. Some of the recent small changes I’m making to be more intentional about sustainability and supporting my local community are:

  • Signing up for a residential composting service! My roommate and I recently signed up for Midtown Composting, a weekly residential compost collection program, which is helping us reduce our waste. Through their industrial level composting, you can compost not only food scraps, but also ‘compostable’ coffee cups and packaging, cardboard, and more. By supporting this local business, you can also receive free compost in the summer for your garden!
  • Buying local when possible! I’m trying to be more intentional in 2021 about buying local whenever possible, including local produce, food items, and products. Buying local not only allows you to invest in your community, but also reduces the carbon footprint of the things you buy (think of the carbon footprint of transporting fruit from Mexico vs. closer to home!).
  • Support and enjoy Michigan’s outdoors! Even though it’s currently very chilly in southeast Michigan, I’m trying to visit state and local parks when I can. Taking time to experience our natural surroundings is not only good for mental and physical health, but also helps support investment and protection of these ecosystems.

There are so many other small (and large) ways we can reduce our environmental impact, and I’m excited to continue on this journey!